Digital Divide in the European Union: A Typology of EU Citizens

Ana Gomes () and José G. Dias ()
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Ana Gomes: Business Research Unit (BRU-IUL)
José G. Dias: Business Research Unit (BRU-IUL)

Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2025, vol. 176, issue 1, No 7, 149-172

Abstract: Abstract This paper addresses the heterogeneity of the digital divide and internet use among citizens in the 28 European Union (EU) countries (at the time of the survey). Drawing from the Eurobarometer Surveys, three indicators of the digital divide are used to define the groups: frequency of internet access, means of internet access, and online activities. The categorical clustering algorithm identifies six groups of internet users: Non-Users, Basic Users, Information Exchangers, Instrumental Users, Socializers, and Advanced Users, each with distinct socio-demographic profiles. The study reveals significant socio-economic and demographic profiling variables characterizing these patterns, including age, education, gender, occupation, type of community and geographic location. A major digital divide is detected in many countries; Notably, Romania, Greece, and Bulgaria have the largest proportion of Non-Users, emphasizing the need for targeted policy interventions. These results provide crucial insights for the European Commission’s digitization strategy, suggesting that more nuanced and targeted measures are needed to ensure equitable digital access across the EU.

Keywords: Internet; Digital divide; European Union; Clustering algorithm; Unobserved heterogeneity; Social networks (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s11205-024-03452-2

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